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GLBT drag shows raise money, awareness
By Faith Ericson/Contributing Writer
"I just flicked off President George, I'm going to Disneyland!" resounded through the Quarry. The audience went wild cheering and clapping their hands.
No, it wasn't the scene of a political rally, and Michael Moore didn't make a surprise appearance. This was lip syncing to Dada this weekend at the annual Raid Your Closet Drag Show marking the closing of Out Proud week sponsored by GLBT Services.
The show took place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Atwood Quarry. The Quarry was decorated with gay pride colored streamers and the rainbow flag served as the backdrop for the show.
Despite competition from the sold out hockey game between SCSU and University of Minnesota Friday night, and the play on stage in the PAC building, the Quarry was filled with enthusiastic audience members who were ready and willing to "gender bend."
"Tickets were sold out for the Drag Show on Saturday night, and we had difficulty accommodating people, which goes to show that the Drag Show is getting more popular every time," said Akash Sen, graduate assistant of GLBT services.
SCSU senior Gabe Larson coordinated the event, and Heidi Aldes and Sarah Stoll emceed the show, keeping the audience laughing.
"I think the audience is tired," Stoll said, who wasn't getting the anticipated response from the audience.
"You guys have no idea how excited we get about our jokes," Aldes said. "Well, if you're not going to laugh, at least give a lot of money to the meningitis fund."
Proceeds from the event, which included tips and admission, amounted to $1,893 and was donated to the National Meningitis Fund.
"Meningitis is a silent killer that comes out of nowhere," Sen said. "This past year, we lost an amazing human being to meningitis and it really made us feel how powerless we are. One way we can fight is by donating money to the research, prevention and cure of this disease. By making this little contribution we feel that we have been able to contribute."
Aldes said that since someone close to them had recently died from the disease, it was a very emotional show and the performers felt how important it was to raise as much money as they could.
Music ranged from Cher to Linkin Park to Michael Jackson and beyond. Highlights from the comedic side of the show included "Journey to the Past" from the movie "Anastasia," lip-synced in a long green jacket and white beret, a song titled "I'm Not a F__king Drag Queen" and a 10 second "ass shake" that had the audience roaring. Glitter was thrown, vibrators were thrown, penis jokes were made, and of course the night wouldn't be complete without leopard print underwear on someone's head.
"I loved the guys. It takes a lot of courage to get up on stage in front of a lot of people, they were rock stars!" said Heather Olson, a junior at SCSU.
The mood of the show took a serious side with GLBT's rendition of "What's Going On?" The performers stood in a line on stage wearing all black. Black bands around their eyes were slowly unwrapped to reveal words like, "Muslim," "class," "gay," "poor," "young," "good," "addict" and "pride."
Lyrics such as "They point their finger at me again. You point your finger at me again. I wanna know the truth instead of wondering why. I wanna know the answers. No more lies. I wanna shut the door and open up my mind" and "Well I know what's right, I got just one life in a world that keeps pushing me around and I won't back down" seemed to take on a new meaning on a meaningful night.
Their rendition of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down," in which a boy is trying to tell his parents he is gay and is being bombarded by bible quotes telling him he was "filthy" and "vile," was another favorite of the audiences.
SCSU senior Becky Reynolds said about the skit, "It showed the hardships lesbians and gays have coming out and the battles they go through".
The show ended with an emotional goodbye by Larson who lip-synced to "How's It Going To Be?" by Third Eye Blind and played a slide show of GLBT members and events.
"This is a very emotional ending to a very emotional week," Aldes said. "Key seniors are leaving. It was hard to go up there."
"This night brought awareness to a sensitive subject, especially in St Cloud," Olson said. "To be able to do it in a humorous way provides a positive atmosphere in which people can learn and extend outside their bubble."
"The night was fabulous ... total success. The audience was great, really receptive, really supportive," Aldes said after the show.
Behind all the glitter, feathers, cheering, clapping, leopard underwear and laughing, a serious message of tolerance, understanding and acceptance of others underscored the night.
"The broad message of tonight was to make people OK with expression and who they are," Aldes said. "This show had a particular meaning that you only have one chance. With all the fighting and war going on in the world right now, we all have to work as a team."
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